By Gladys Gonda
A total of 116 contestants from the thousands who auditionedin the StarBrite Season 8 auditions managed to proceed to the show’s famed Bootcamp that is slated for Sanganyi Creek, in Banket, from the 24th – 29th November 2019.
Like all other seasons over the years, StarBrite travels across the breadth and width of Zimbabwe, including prisons, in search of talented acts who would then battle it out in the first, second and third round, respectively,for a slot in the ‘StarBrite Bootcamp’.
On Saturday the 21st September, contestants who had made it through to the auditions from around Harare competed for a place in the third round before a panel of judges, who included Sebastian Magacha, Brian Masendeke, Huby Blacks and Barney Mpariwa, respectively.
The following day contestants from outside Harare (Northern region), which includes Chinhoyi, Mutoko, Kariba, Shamva, Bindura, Marondera and Mutare were afforded a platform to prove their worth and in the process proceed to the 3rd upon satisfying judges.
As the bottle-neck system kicked-in, competition grew thick as contestants had to dig-in and summon their inner artistic prowess to fend off stiff competition from their peers to earn a ticket to the Season 8 Bootcamp before the expert panel of judges namely, Richard Kohola, Carol Masawi, Godfrey Koti and Barney Mpariwa, respectively.
As the 3rd round reached its waterloo, the auditorium was emotionally charged, as the victors were in cloud nine, while those who failed to make it after putting on a spirited fight, were sadly in tears.
While it was a joyful moment for winners, those who failed to proceed past the hurdle were given words of encouragement by the show’s executive director and founder, Barney Mpariwa.
One of the contestants, who managed to book the Bootcamp ticket, Wellington Micho from Mbare was overcomed by joy and expressed his thrill for the upcoming adventure.
“I am so happy that I won the bootcamp ticket. I am looking forward to a great adventure …”
However,from the crop that failed to progress to the Bootcamp some remained hopeful in their future endeavors.
“We are coming back next year, we are not giving up,” says one member of the Double Impact singing group.
The StarBrite Season 8 auditions were held over a period of just over two (2) months – across Zimbabwe.
